Coney Island - Rides & Shows List

Revised June 3, 1998

This ride list was begun by Professor Manbeck in 1995 and then greatly expanded and completely
reworked with my research notes using Billboard magazine. Unfortunately
it is by no means complete since I read it quickly and usually just read the
issues from mid-March through the end of July, sometimes through the end of August, from 1904-1955. I also read many of the New York Times articles and May issues of the Brooklyn Eagle from 1902-1920.

Those who have researched Brooklyn newspapers may be able to add to the list, correct it, or provide missing ride descriptions. Many of the rides that are currently at Coney Island today are not on the list (see Independent Rides near end of list.)

Accuracy of List & Completeness

Sea Lion Park 1895 - 1902 -- 60%

Steeplechase 1897 - 1907 -- 75%

Steeplechase 1907 - 1924 -- 85%

Steeplechase 1925 - 1964 -- 98%

Dreamland 1904 - 1911 -- 95%

Luna Park 1903 - 1920 -- 95%

Luna Park 1921 - 1944 -- 85%

Independent Rides 1875 - 1910 -- 50%

Independent Rides 1911 - 1955 -- 65%

Independent Rides 1956 - 1997 -- 20%

Note: I've attempted to give the date the attraction was installed. When it says m 1925, it means that is the first or last time the ride is mentioned in print. It could have been installed earlier and lasted for years after that.

A Trip to the Moon - 1902 only (cyclorama using projections developed
by Thompson & Dundy - opened April 26, 1902)

Giant Seesaw - 1902-1907 (2 Ferris Wheels at end of teeter board;
developed by Thompson & Dundy)
Note: aka Aerio Cycle - did not operate after fire, but
used as a giant billboard to hold Steeplechase sign until dismantled in
1929)

Steeplechase Horses - 1908- 1966 (New horse race course had two
separate courses running somewhat parallel with each other. One, 4
horses wide ran completely outside the Pavilion of Fun and the other
also 4 horses wide, mostly inside the structure. The outside track
was about 2100 feet long. It was lengthened by 800 feet in 1912 so
that it ran also on the Surf. Avenue side of building.??
In 1916 added 5 more horses for a total of 30. Park claims 3,000,000
riders to July 1916. Outer track destroyed in the 1939 fire so afterwards
there were only four horses on the inner track. The owners felt that it was
too expensive to replace the damaged 220 feet of track.)

Insanitarium with Blowhole Theater 1908 - 1961 (Patrons after riding the
Steeplechase Horses walked down a ramp onto its stage. Clowns herded them
through its Comedy Lane where the men were seperated from the ladies with
electric cattle prods, and the jets of compressed air blew their dresses
high up into the air. To escape they had to negotiate a moving section of
floor called the Battleship Roll. An audience sitting in the Blowhole
Theater could enjoy watching others be made fun of, an experience they had
endured minutes earlier.

Steeplechase Pier - 1908 - Present? (Pier survived Steeplechase 1907 fire.
After Dreamland 1911 fire, steamers from Manhattan began using the pier.
The pier burned in April 1957 and was rebuilt and reopened September 1958)

Sunken Gardens - 1908 (contained Ferris Wheel & Air Ships)

House Upside Down - 1908- m 1933 (burned 1911) (2-1/2 story structure
with German Village restaurant on ground floor; furniture nailed
upside down on second floor. Obviously rebuilt after fire.)
Note:Located within the Limit's W. 19th turn and may not
have operated after 1928.

Cave of the Winds - 1908 (fun house with wind machine inside - in Pavilion
of Fun)

Shamrock Bowl - 1908 (in Pavilion of Fun)

Grinder - 1908 (a huge sausage machine - in Pavilion of Fun)

Human Niagara - 1908 (once you ascended the adjacent Golden Stairs you
slid down this bumpty bump slide with 60 ball bearing rollers on an
inclined plane and landed in a big soup bowl. It was confusing to exit
the bowl as others descending would often slide into them and knock
them off their feet)

Rope & Bridge - 1908

Shoe Fly - 1908

The Pit - 1908

The Wabbler - 1908 (in Pavilion of Fun)

Spider's Web - 1908 (in Pavilion of Fun)

Over & Under - 1908 (in Pavilion of Fun)

Lifting the Lid - 1908 (in Pavilion of Fun)

Man of the Flower - 1908 (in Pavilion of Fun)

Home - Sweet Home - 1908 (in Pavilion of Fun)

??? - 1908 (an iron mesh maze - in Pavilion of Fun)

The Jungle - 1908

The Neptune - 1908

Archimedes' Wonder - 1908

Job's Elevator - 1908

Bicycle Carousel - 1908 - 1939 (Passengers supplied motive power in this
carousel style ride. Initially in Pavilion of Fun then moved outdoors in
1934 and burned in a 1939 fire)
Note: aka Bicycle Runabout

The Squeezer - 1910 (48 diameter circus ring. The center was a mound
with a downward angle and held a dozen seated people. The ring
revolved and they shot off it as it gained speed. The sexes were separated
on each ride.
Note: Sounds like the Human Roulette Wheel. May be its first name.

Human Pool Table - 1910 - 1959 (spinning discs under Dew Drop slide - in
Pavilion of Fun - made up of 24 large discs with adjacent ones
revolving in opposite directions. The people are "players" as they
are spun every which way across the ride's flat surface. Each trying
to regain footing) - m 1924

Dinosaur Exhibit - 1910 (exhibit of a dinosaur dug up in Montana)

The Rosarium - 1910

The Tippy Boats - 1910

Golden Stairs - 1910 m 1920 (50 feet high - in Bowery lobby)

The South Pole - 1910 - 1932 (in Pavilion of Fun - but later ouside near
Boardwalk)

Whirlwind Slide - 1910 (Bowery lobby)

Monster Elephant - 1910 m 1920's (in Pavilion of Fun)
Note: Might have lasted until 1962 at side of stage. The large
pink elephant mentioned during removal of stage & when its howdow
(passenger platform) removed.

Midget Circus - 1910

Vaudaville Theater - 1910

Racing Autos - 1910 (25 full size cars - 1 mile track?? )

Outdoor Swimming 1910 - 1963 (outside pool was 270 x 90 feet -
depth 3 to 6 feet; 1 diving board - contained 670,000 gallons of salt
water)
Note: Pool was converted to use by season pass holders only
beginning with the 1945 season. Pool was filled but not open during 1964
season. See 1932 for addition of two other smaller pools.)

Automobile Ride - 1913 m 1920 (1/4 mile around park - an article mentions
that after the Steeplechase entrance was rebuilt in 1914, the Arcade ran
the full distance from Surf Ave. to the sea with the automobile tracks
on top.)

Venetian Gondolas - m 1913 - 1940 (An imported English ride using a circular
and possibly undulated track. Cars are in the shape of gondolas. Located
outdoors)

Hitting the Pipe - m 1913 (near beach)

South Pole - 1914 (in Pavilion of Fun)

Roller Skating Rink - 1915 - 1928 (Located above the restaurant on the Horse
track floor but hidden from view along the north end of the Pavilion of
Fun. The rink remained after 1928 but was only used for private parties by
the Tilyous.)

Heydey - 1929 - 1964 (cars with wheels seating 4 people were pulled by cable
around an eliptical track. The cars weren't steerable, but the patrons in
the rear seat could by leaning to one side, then back suddenly, could make
the car whip around to face backwards - inside Pavilion of Fun)

Kiddie & Diving Pools - 1932 - 1963 (2 small circular pools built on north
end of big outdoor pool. Kiddie pool - a 1 foot deep wading pool. Diving
pool had one high diving board and two lower boards on either side.)

Circus - 1933 - 1939 (one-ringed circus - free shows daily performed in arena
near boardwalk. Back stage area burned in 1939 and then removed to make
room for the Parachute ride.)

Infant Incubators - 1936 - 1938 (Dr. Couney exhibited premature infants cared
for by trained nurses in a building along the Boardwalk ramp. It was
fortunate that he was exhibiting at the World's Fair in 1939, the year of
the devasating fire.)

Zoo - 1936- 1958 (maze plus a few gimmicks - in Pavilion of Fun)

Eli Ferris Wheel 1939 - 1947 (along Boardwalk)

Kiddie Fire Engines 1939 - (along Boardwalk)

California Red Bats (1939 - m 1958 (joke attraction - 2 broken bricks in a
box with note asking people not to tell what they saw. - located near
Express Train platform)

Note: I believe that there are still several errors of duplicate rides inside the
Pavilion of Fun because of numerous name changes over the years. Also there are
six possible Steeplechase attractions on Professor Manbeck's original list
that I have found no evidence. They are the Whriling Wheels, Japanese Tea
Garden, Ghost House and Tunnel of Laffs.

A Trip to the Moon - 1903-1907 (cyclorama show)
Note: Building converted in 1912 to Trip to Mars by Aeroplane;
later The Battle of the Marne.

War of the Worlds - 1903-1905 (recreation of sea battle between a fleet of 60
foreign ships that attack New York City - with
models & actors)
Note:aka The Great Naval Spectatorium

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - 1903 (submarine ride to the north pole -
moved on a flat surface. It seemingly dove and surfaced by changing the water
level with pumps. At Pole an eskimo village with dog sleds, igloos set admist
an refrigerated iceberg.)

Bouncing Bell Buoy - 1909 (ride around on top of can buoy around
lighthouse - roll & twist on course)

Magic Chair - 1909

Falling Statue; trick swings & chairs - 1909

Human Menagerie - 1909 (show ??)

Firecracker Maze - 1909

Enchanted Fish Bowl - 1909

Thompson Scenic Railroad - 1909 m 1912 (is this Toboggan Railway?)

Ocean Wave - 1909 (long circular boat ride - 5 minutes)

The Cake-walk - 1909 m 1910 (ride)

The Newlyweds - 1909 (show)

Affinities - 1909 (laugh show)

Trip to Mars by Aeroplane - 1910-1912 (formerly A Trip to the Moon
refurbished with airplanes under own power. 100 passengers taken on
a trip which starts from Governor's Island, sails thru the clouds to
Mars. A lecturer on board to narrate the sights. Some accounts
say it then flies to several stars before returning to earth)

Crazy Town - 1913 (Mother Goose characters - Thompson's whimsical
conception made up of a collection of children's play blocks set at
various angles. Each attraction cost a penny. ex. Jack & Bean Stalk -
girl sits in a chair and you set a dial striker - immediately she
shoots up 30 feet into air - costs another penny and another strike
to get her down. Ticket taker or seller is a convict in stripes
surrounded by barrels of money. Wardens with guns prevent people
from robbing convicts. )

Bughouse Theater - 1913 (admitted into a barn & take an involuntary
slide into a haymow. There is the house that Jack built. A barber
pole at top with cage where a bearded lady shaves you for one cent.
Crowds of freaks etc.

Drop the Dips - 1924 - early 30's? (this compact roller coaster was believed
to have been moved to Luna in 1924 when Coney's streets were widened. It
appears in a 1930 map southeast of the lagoon. Its loading building may have
had a moon theme; thus its new name)Note:aka Trip to the Moon.

Battle of Chateau-Thierry - 1928 m 1929 (aka Battle of Marne -
show $300,000 cyclorama battle painted on canvas 315 x 50 ft high.
Perspective obtained with painted screens at various distances.
Small parts of the cyclorama such as motor trucks, tanks and a
bridge that drops out of sight in a cloud of steam when "blown up"
Uses electric flashes, jets of steam, drums, rifles and machine gun
to make battle realistic.

Liliputia, The Midget City - 1904-1906 (300 midgets lived in a
reproduction of 16th century Nuremburg created by Gumpertz; with
houses, hotel, circus, band, fire department, surf bathing with
lifeguards, Midget City Theater (vaudeville), military garrison
& Gulliver [a giant])Note: In 1906 space was cut nearly in half for village
of Moki Indians.

Fighting the Flames - 1904-1905 (from St. Louis Exposition, 1904;
fire drama to save 6 story building (expanded to a block of burning
buildings in 1905) - with cast of 2000 (120 firemen) and
directed by Fire Chief Sweeney)

Orient - 1907-1911)(an Ellis attraction on the west promenade) (included
Hanging Gardens of Babylon in the Orient with huge terraces built
and columns erected in Babylonian architecture; troupes of Indian
performers entertain; a Theater & Museum with antiquities)

Elephant Hotel - 1885-1896 (122 feet high building in the shape of an
elephant)

Tivoli - 1890 (at Feltman's)

Boyton Bicycle Railroad - 1890 (ran from Gravesend to Coney Island on a single
track; was four feet wide and balanced.)

Circle Swing - 1894 (Charles Braaf; built by carousel builder Bungartz-
large rotating frame supported eight "airships" each powered by small
electric motors run by a steam powered generator. Unfortunately it
was under-powered and ran at a very slow speed.)

Ferris Wheel - 1894 (125 ft diameter with 12 cars each holding 18 passengers.
Owned by George Tilyou at Bowery and W. 8th St. Transferred to Steeplechase
in 1905.)

Ice Tobaggan Coaster - 1895 (W. 10th - east side) Owners had operated the
refrigerated ice slide with sled style cars successfully at Columbian
World's Fair. However, it had been shaded by a large Ferris Wheel there,
but was in the hot sun at Coney where it turned to slush.

Drop the Dip - 1906-1925? (Christian Feucht's roller coaster; located
at Bushman's Walk & The Bowery; burned in 1906 but rebuilt in 1908;
moved to adjacent lot to avoid rent increase in 1815; moved again
in January 1925 to avoid demolition during widening of streets)

Roosevelt's Rough Riders - 1906-??? (3rd rail roller coaster; site of
Coney Island's worst accident in 1910 with 4 killed and two more were killed
on it in 1915; located on Jones Walk south of Bowery)

Double Whirl - m 1910 (ride where passengers in Ferris Wheel baskets suspended
on ends of four radial arms 15 feet off the ground. As each of the four
small Ferris wheels
revolve, they simultanously rotate horizontally around the central axis.)

German Carousel - 1911 (Surf Ave. & W. 5th in old North Pole bldg. -
three carousel platforms that run at different speeds - paint
blistered but not burned in 1911 Dreamland fire. Tilyou restored
carousel and installed in his Pavilion of Fun in 1912)

New York Underworld - 1920 (oned by Gumperetz - next to Dreamland
Circus - wax show??)

Wilds of Africa & Eskimo Village - 1929 (show)

--------------More Independent Rides----------------------

Panama Canal - 1913 (large model of canal on Surf Avenue)

Auto Maze - 1913 (Autos pulled along by chains in a slotted conduit
on two serpentine courses that crisscrossed. The autos moving at
5 MPH would barely miss each other as they crossed. The cross-over
mechanism didn't work properly and there were often rear end
collisions. Reynolds, the inventor overhauled the ride repeatedly,
but eventually gave up. It operated in an enclosed space 175 x 150
feet.
Note: Listed in independent section since not mentioned at Luna
Park.

Sea Beach Coaster - m 1916 (on Bowery?? - mentioned in an article about
structures encroaching on public beach. Since there is a complete list of
known coasters elsewhere on this site, I can only asume it is another name
for a known coaster??)

Automobile Races - m 1914 m 1920 (on Surf Avenue)

Electric Girl Show & Ten in One - 1914 (show located in Galveston
Flood Bldg.)

Caterpillar - 1925 m 1949 (train of two-seated cars on a circular
undulating track - had a manually operated canopy which made it a
popular ride for necking couples. When all canopies were closed -
looked like a rapidly moving caterpillar - on Bowery)

Tornado - 1926-1978 (roller coaster built by Thompson Co., designed by
Prior & Church; originally called the Bob's Tornado; Jeweled Tower
100 feet high lighted by powerful floodlights - located at Stillwell
Avenue - the street was extended to Boardwalk in 1923, replacing
Bushman's Walk)

Swooper - 1939 - (W. 8th Street - Tilyou owned - Resembles a flattned Ferris
Wheel with two rotating hubs, where the suspended seats move along
horizontally and then swoop towards the ground as they are carried around
the end hub to the bottom.)

Spitfire - 1949 (Bowery)(Planes travelled in a circle inclined 45
degrees to the center pole. Pilots of each plane used a control
stick to operate the plane's ailerons. Could perform 360 degree
barrel rolls or fly straight and level.

ATTRACTIONS NOT BUILT

Steel Globe Tower - advertised in New York Herald in 1906 as
competition for Luna Park, Dreamland and Steeplechase; architectural
drawings were released, money solicited, but the building never
materialized; declared a hoax.

Palace of Joy - designed in 1919 as a pier containing "the largest
enclosed swimming pool in the world" with dance hall, skating rink,
2000 bath houses, 500 private rooms, but it was never built.
However, a Palace of Joy did open in 1921 on Surf Avenue near Luna
Park. It only housed an indoor swimming pool.